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Obituaries published in the July 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

KAREN GAIL McCRARY

LULING – Karen Gail McCrary, longtime writer, photographer and former editor and publisher of the Luling Newsboy and Signal, died June 14. She was 69.

A native of Luling, she was known not only as the city’s journalistic voice, but as a leader and champion of many civic programs and improvements.

In a tribute published on the front page of the Thursday, June 22, edition of the Newsboy and Signal,  Managing Editor Bobby Horecka described his colleague as “one of Luling’s most tireless volunteers, a champion for Luling civic improvements and a dedicated and selfless newswoman.”

McCrary began working for the Newsboy shortly after graduating from Luling High School in 1971, embarking on a career that would last five decades and would enable her to support and champion the community she loved.

She became editor in 1980 and served in that role until retirement in 2018. She was still covering local news up until the time of her death.

McCrary was instrumental in the planning and execution of many community development exercises and programs.

Over the years she served with the Chamber of Commerce, the Watermelon Thump Association, Kiwanis Club, Luling Volunteer Fire Department, Luling Stock Show Committee, Luling Oil Museum, Zedler Mill Foundation, Night in Old Luling, Luling Main Street and the Church of the Annunciation. She was also a firefighter.

She was known for her keen and objective coverage of city and county news and politics.

Horecka noted that McCrary left the newspaper to work as a legal assistant for a number of years before Buddy Preuss, owner of the newspaper, was able to convince her to return to her real love.

When she finally made that move in 1979, however, Preuss said he quickly came to know another fact about her as well.

“Karen was one of the most loyal employees at any of our newspapers,” he said. “She offered that same loyalty to the Watermelon Thump and the entire city of Luling. She never complained, no matter how tough the going would get, and I never had to worry about anything at the Newsboy as long as Karen was at the helm. I will dearly miss her.”

McCrary is survived by four younger siblings, nine nieces, three nephews and other relatives. A celebration of her life was held July 1 at Zedler Mill in Luling. July 1 would have been her 70th birthday.

Memorials may be made to the Luling Oil Museum, 421 E Davis St, Luling, Texas 78648, (830) 875-1922, or the Luling Fire Department, 509 E Crockett St., Luling Texas, 78648.

SAMUEL NEIL HARLE

MINEOLA - Samuel Neil Harle, former owner of the Mineola Monitor, died May 21. He was 98.

According to the local historical marker in front of the Monitor office, Harle purchased the Monitor Jan. 1, 1956 and sold it in August 1963. He was also involved in the Wood County Record, Grand Saline Sun and Lindale Times.

Harle was born in Port Arthur, became an Eagle Scout along with brother Joe and six first cousins, and graduated from Port Arthur Jefferson High School in 1942. He enrolled in the college of journalism at the University of Missouri, and in 1943 enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He served in the First Marine Air Wing at a forward air base on the island of Bougainville in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

He returned to the University of Missouri, married Betty Kay and earned his journalism degree in 1948.

Soon after acquiring the Monitor, he was among the dignitaries riding on the last run of the Katy railroad from Mineola to Greenville.

The Harles raised four children, Foist, Joe, Jack and Ellen, and were active members of the First Methodist Church in Mineola.

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty in 1980. He was also preceded in death by a son and a grandson.

Harle persuaded the Peace Corps to accept a 59-year-old rookie and he served 10 years in Jamaica, Swaziland and Botswana. He returned to Mineola where he spent 28 years before moving to the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home in 2020.

He is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and other relatives.

Memorial service was held May 24 at the First Methodist Church. Burial followed May 25 at the San Marcos City Cemetery.

ARTHUR MOCZYGEMBA

SAN ANTONIO – Arthur Moczygemba, a longtime editor at the San Antonio Express-News known as a mentor to young journalists, died June 4. He was 85.

He worked at the San Antonio Light and then the Express-News for a total of nearly 30 years. His colleagues enjoyed hearing his stories of the days when the city had two major daily newspapers.

At the Express-News, Moczygemba was a deputy city editor and nighttime assistant city editor, retiring at in 1999 at age 62.

According to a tribute by Scott Huddleston published in the Express-News, Moczygemba was known for his deep experience, institutional memory and patient work with reporters on deadline. Before journalists could communicate with texts and email or update their stories online, Moczygemba would take dictation by phone, probing reporters on the scene for quotes and color in time for the final print deadline.

He also wrote his own stories about crimes or car chases if no reporters were available, and was instrumental in Express-News team coverage of Pope John Paul II’s visit to San Antonio in 1987.

A native of Poth, Texas, Moczygemba was descended from the original Polish immigrant families who settled in Panna Maria in 1854. He was a great-great-great-nephew of Father Leopold Moczygemba, who is considered to be the founder of the first permanent Polish settlement in the United States.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lorene (Wiatrek) Moczygemba, four children, three grandchildren and other relatives.

Funeral mass was held June 13 at St. Brigid Catholic Church in San Antonio. Graveside services and burial followed June 14 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Kosciusko, Texas.